My Brain is Still in Creating-Christmas Mode

 When we see mailboxes decorated for Christmas, I always "oooh" and "ahhh." Since my brain will be in Christmas decorating cheaply mode, I had another thought. I have a small wreath that I bought cheaply. Well, I hated it and bought a wreath of greenery only and put poinsettias on it. I found that small wreath and decided I could remake it for the mailbox. Maybe I will cut in in half and put both the halves, backs together, over the mailbox. It has a very full sparkly, gold bow. If the bow will not last in the weather next year, I can replace the bow the next year with a durable, red bow. 

Maybe you would prefer to have me save it all for December. ??? I will move on, but I must create all year long to have decorations made cheaply ready by next Christmas. 

Not much was planned for today. Not much was accomplished. But, that is okay. Tommy laid the deer on the porch since wind is forecast for tonight. Rain and wind. Hopefully, the electricity stays on. 

We did do one errand. Then, Tommy went to Publix and bought milk for both of us and a few other things, mainly two bags of chips for him and cookies for me. I will ration them...lol. Everything but the milk was bogo. 

An hour nap was followed by dinner. 

Dinner was still leftovers--turkey breast or chicken thigh, sweet potatoes and cabbage. Tommy also had green bean casserole. 

We are discussing putting away Christmas decorations. Hopefully, action will follow. Maybe tonight. Keep your fingers crossed. 

Reading more, I learned a few things about lymphedema. It is all interesting and shocking. My friend died of lymphedema, diagnosed on her deathbed, undiagnosed for many years by multiple physicians to whom she turned.

So, it is too late to put away decorations. Maybe tomorrow. Tommy's arm where he was vaccinated is really hurting him. Mine does not hurt at all. Neither of us feel any other adverse effects, thankfully. Only one covid vaccine left us feeling blah and lying around. 

I was sitting here thinking about the mailbox decoration. I thought how nice the greenery would look on a red mailbox. I asked Tommy how would it be if I painted the mailbox red. He said, "I don't care. You can paint the post, too, if you want to." I am so happy. I will wait until a hot, dry summer day, wash it, let it dry, wipe if off just before I want to spray paint it. It will look good and work for Christmas, too. I may not paint the post it is on, just spray it black. 

Do you think a red post would look good?

How is the first week of 2024 treating you?

Are you working on your goals for 2024?

Resolutions and HAPPY NEW YEAR to you

I don't think so
I don't make resolutions. It seems that is just an invitation to failure. My goals do not have to result in continuous guilt or be completed to perfection. I cannot fail. I refuse to feel guilty.

Goals
However, I do have goals. Mostly, they are the same each year. If not the same, I will add a goal and drop another, so that over time the goals seems consistent.

Health
The older I become, the more important it is that health matters are at the forefront. Even without health insurance, I have managed to keep a check on certain health issues. In some areas, all is excellent. I have managed to avoid high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and thyroid problems. On the other hand, I need to continue monitoring all these. Now, I have insurance.

*MRI on 1-3-11 for knee
*visit to dermatologist (skin cancer runs in father's family)
*further thyroid checks (half of thyroid taken out few years ago)
*lose weight
*tests for other issues

You might wonder why I did not list losing weight as a resolution or goal. I didn't because excess weight is a health issue. Even with all my excess weight, I have managed to avoid through my own efforts and extraordinarily good genes many of the health issues associated with being overweight. This could all change with the next test I have.

Finances
Even as I make little progress on income, I still try to make the most of my financial resources. My goal is to increase my monthly income by $300 each month this coming year. Another financial goal is to further decrease spending.

*get paid for my writing elsewhere
*craft more resumes for people
*ramp up my use of coupons to maximize savings
*sell more of my possessions that need to go
*drive even less

It never seems right to just try to make more money or just to spend less. Both efforts will more likely assure success in the financial area of my life.

House repairs
This is long overdue and beyond the scope of my wallet or hammer skills...lol.

Clutter control
My clutter is not my slovenliness or hoarding. Things were salvaged from one huge wet area of my house to just three rooms, making living not fun. Right now, just organizing is the goal. Throwing out or selling what I find is secondary and must move higher on the list of to-dos.

Hen House
My pretty hens need a secure house outside. They do not like it when I sleep until 9:30 like today and they must be confined to a small crate in the house with me. Besides, they pull chest feathers, don't get enough sunlight to lay eggs, and are just frustrated all around. I have been very ill for the last week, so getting up and taking them out is not high on my list of priorities right now.

Grow more food
This should be an easy goal since my health last year coupled with my procrastination precluded my growing much. Plus, I needed to guard my plants. Chickens will destroy them if not protected. I can do better!

*organize pots, seeds, and supplies early
*germinate early
*garden in the shrubs
*use chicken wire


2011
My goals all need to be broken down into naturally occurring sequences. But, that is what's on the agenda for the next year. Some of the goals do reoccur each year, not because I do not attain the goal, but because I strive to do better or continue with success. For example, I will never take "health" from my list of goals because I either need to improve my health or make sure it continues as is and does not deteriorate.

Since I am ill, tonight will be a night in with a bag of chips and dip and Diet Coke. That is not a good use of my resources or a way to improve my health, but it works for me right now.

Happy New Year!